Used2b575lbs

You have to read the fine print also check out my intro to really understand. I came home in 2009 on a mission I lost the initial 200 lbs on my own with blood sweat tears and nutrition eating 5 small meals allowing myself one cheat meal a week whether it was chicken parm or $15 at taco bell. I cut out beer and soda for the most part as I knew I was headed toward a lifetime without it and really stayed away from the sweets. I ramped up my exercise when I was 575 lbs I couldn't hardly do 10 minutes on the treadmill at 2 mph and now today and yesterday I did over 3 miles on the elliptical in 30 minutes and did a full body workout upper one day/lower the next It really is easy when you think about it but we are our own worst enemies 3 things will keep you on track 1) Eat Protein 2) Drink Water 3) Exercise... of course Vitamins, support groups, and doctor follow ups are extremely important as well but those first three things are what really gets the sleeve working for you. I've lost 105 lbs in 7+ months post sleeve and after recommitting to working my sleeve this week I think i'm going to see another big drop on the scale tomorrow can't wait!!!

Everybody is different, the first week out of surgery I gained 7 lbs I was shocked because I was on liquid and only having like 400 calories a day but when I went for my second appoints and stepped on the scale I had lost 31 lbs or net loss of 24. I was so happy I teared up a bit. Now I realize men lose fast, i'm young, and I had a lot more to lose that's why I say everyone is different. Just stick with it follow the doctors plans, eat your Protein, drink your Water, and exercise and you too will probably have that WOW! moment...

I rely on coffee like a crutch, for energy to sooth me, to wind me down after a long day. I used to drink so much soda and beer before surgery so now I turn to coffee as the tiny bubbles in those two drinks are a definite no-no... At first I made sure I was getting in my Water at least 64 ozs then I added decaf, once I was able to get in 100 ozs of water I added the caffeine back. Here's the thing caffeine actually leaches water from your body and can dehydrate you if you're not drinking enough water so for every ounce of caffeinated coffee you should drink an extra ounce of water. Also beware of the calories the drink can add... I was going along fine and never really used sugar or sweetners then one day I had a caramel coffee at DD it was love at first sip and also is what I believe started a carb induced plateau because the sugar got in my head and I couldn't have enough. I've started doing more decaf the caff and i've laid off the sugar and now I believe it's fine. Coffee and chewing gum are two vices I just can't give up

Thank you all! I lurked around for a bit but decided to take the plunge I should be getting some photos up this weekend... I look forward to the motivation encouragement support and bond of the community and i'm also hoping that I can help others with my knowledge and experience.

I can only speak from my experience, I go to the gym and weight train about 4 times a week. First off I took the 6 weeks of no lifting after the surgery to heart. When I went back to the gym I was very weak and lost a lot of muscle. According to everything I've read you can't lose weight and gain muscle at the exact same time but I do think there's some hope. In the beginning no way as you can not eat enough but down the road I believe that if you cycle meaning two light days of eating and one heavier day you can. One of the greatest things about working out after surgery is you can tone and tighten and your physique (sp?) starts to show. I can see muscles I didn't no I had now... good luck!

Wow good for you keep working it!

Wow how inspirational simply amazing!!!

Thank You!!! I am here to inspire and encourage others as well as to ensure I continually stay motivated myself. I know I don't want to hijack this thread or any other, I created a thread called introduction you should check it out it's up in Tell your story

Thanks! It isn't a sprint it's a marathon and yes I do feel better and have made many positive changes but I know lurking inside is the old me and my real battle will be for life... Keeping it off and staying healthy, but I feel I have it in me and I have all the tools I need to do it!

I used to drop $15-20 each time I visited Taco Bell and I have eaten there a few times but anything there is probably a slider food, I would imagine maybe the best item on the menu is the pintos and cheese. I've had a bean burrito and it sat in my system for almost a day, it made me feel ill I also have ordered the chicken XXL Chalupa but I can't finish all that breading I know these definitely aren't the best choices but once in a while is alright as long as it isn't becoming a habit. Haven't been in a while and i'm actually staying away until I lose more weight, would try the Fresca line but what makes it so good for me is the sour cream, cheese, and lava sauce, this also makes it bad for me oh well.

Most definitely I had to cut all those sliders out as I haven't lost a pound in 7 weeks, looking forward to tomorrow's weigh in as I've focused on protein this week.

You will feel great soon, just work the sleeve... and follow your doctors plan I was fortunate not to have too much pain but did have some discomfort. The first time you step on the scale to a loss, for me it was the second weigh in as I gained on the first weigh in, you should get a boost. I remember the first huge loss I was so happy I actually teared up, you have a lot of thinner days to look forward to and the pain will subside.

Nobody said it would be easy and it is definitely not... Over the past 7 weeks I too slipped eating lots of crap and getting back to old habits. This week I took a long look at myself in the mirror and reminded myself why I am doing this, and why I had the surgery... One simple thing I've done this week that made me fall back in love with my sleeve. I focused on Protein and solely on protein. eggs, chicken, turkey, cottage cheese, cheese etc... I felt full again and haven't ate that much. I spent the week here reading about plateaus and slider foods and I was doing this to myself chips, combos, croissants all horrible decisions. The first three days of the week the carbs still had a grip on me, apparently I have a carb weakness but by the fourth day of lowering my carb intake I felt content. Sure I had a few sweet potato fries but only after I had at least three ounces of protein. This morning I had two bites of cantoulope but only after my egg white omelette. I know it's hard but you can do it! we can all do it! work your sleeve!

I've spent most of my life heavy at 13 I was over 300 lbs, the lightest I've been was 245 lbs at the age of 16 years old... at my heaviest I was around 575 lbs... I tried to have a gastric bypass in 2003 but the company I worked for got bought out, my insurance changed and the new insurance wouldn't approve the surgery after going through all the pre surgery tests. I have lost and gained over and over again including 115 lbs in 2007 only to gain it back plus some. I moved back to my childhood home in 2009 and had one mission, get healthy, I also started my mission to get sleeved or bypassed. I was all set up to get a bypass in October 2009 but then was told I couldn't have the surgery because at 496 lbs I was too big. The CAT scan machines at 2 of the local hospitals only went up to 400 lbs and they couldn't risk operating on me. The third hospital in the area went up to 500 lbs but would accept my insurance. I pressed on and found a hospital 1 hour and 15 minutes away, and after 3 appeals with my insurance company I got approved two days after I started a new job March 2010. The company I work for has a strict 90 day no absence policy so I setup my Surgery for July 12th... That day I was sleeved and was fortunate not to have much pain and just a little discomfort. I lost 100 lbs quickly but then slipped back into some old carb habits, this week I recognized that I was eating slider foods and recommitted myself to working my sleeve, over the past seven weeks I actually gained 2 lbs but I think I've lost that and then some this week. Remember what I forgot Protein and Water are so important and if you're eating your protein properly you won't really have room for junk.